SmartFinancial Strengthens Ties to Smart Infrastructure

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartFinancial, Inc. ("SmartFinancial"; OTCBB: SMBK), announced it has consolidated fiber optic communications providers franchise-wide, strengthening its partnership with EPB (Electric Power Board) and fully leveraging the smart infrastructure established as a community asset.

Brandon Christopher, Chief Information Officer, stated: "As we finalize the integration of Cornerstone Community Bank and SmartBank, it made a lot of sense to consolidate our fiber services to EPB which not only streamlines expenses but also enhances our technology and performance."

Barry Watson, President of Cornerstone Community Bank, added:  "This strengthened partnership is not only good for Chattanooga, the EPB smart infrastructure benefits SmartBank's entire footprint which includes 7 offices spanning East Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle.  In Chattanooga, we're excited about the roll out of SmartBanking, leading with our experienced bankers, customizing responsive client solutions, and introducing new products and technology."

SmartFinancial's Chairman Miller Welborn stated: "As we combine into a $1 billion in assets community bank and expand SmartBank, this is just one example of the many opportunities we are seizing to heighten efficiency and stage for continued growth.  With our Chattanooga flagship office perfectly positioned in the Innovation District, we will look for additional ways to partner with EPB and utilize the fiber optic network to further banking innovation."

About SmartFinancial, Inc.

SmartFinancial, Inc., based in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the bank holding company for SmartBank and Cornerstone Community Bank.  SmartBank is a full-service commercial bank founded in 2007, with seven branches and one loan production office spanning East Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle. Recruiting the best people, delivering exceptional client service, strategic branching and a conservative and disciplined approach to lending have all given rise to SmartBank's success. More information about SmartFinancial can be found on its website: www.smartbank.com.  Cornerstone Community Bank is a full-service commercial bank founded in 1996, with five branches throughout the Chattanooga MSA and one loan production office in Dalton, Georgia. Cornerstone Community Bank specializes in providing customized financial solutions for businesses and consumers, by offering a comprehensive range of products and services designed to help companies and individuals build strong financial foundations. More information about Cornerstone Community Bank can be found on its website: www.cscbank.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements. SmartFinancial cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to: changes in management's plans for the future, prevailing economic and political conditions, particularly in our market area; credit risk associated with our lending activities; changes in interest rates, loan demand, real estate values and competition; changes in accounting principles, policies, and guidelines; changes in any applicable law, rule, regulation or practice with respect to tax or legal issues; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products and services and other factors that may be described in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

In addition to these risks, acquisitions and business combinations present risks other than those presented by the nature of the business acquired. Acquisitions and business combinations may be substantially more expensive to complete than originally anticipated, and the anticipated benefits may be significantly harder—or take longer—to achieve than expected. As regulated financial institutions, our pursuit of attractive acquisition and business combination opportunities could be negatively impacted by regulatory delays or other regulatory issues. Regulatory and/or legal issues related to the pre-acquisition operations of an acquired or combined business may cause reputational harm to SmartFinancial following the acquisition or combination, and integration of the acquired or combined business with ours may result in additional future costs arising as a result of those issues.

The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation, SmartFinancial assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE SmartFinancial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cscbank.com